Printing client management method and wireless LAN printer in wireless network

ABSTRACT

A printing client management method and a wireless LAN printer in a wireless network is provided. According to the printing client management method for a wireless Local Area Network (LAN), information is extracted from Media Access Control (MAC) frames of the printing clients that associate with a Basic Service Set (BSS) including the wireless LAN printer. A list of the printing clients is formed using MAC addresses of the MAC frames as indexes, and management of printing operations of the printing clients is completed according to the list.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-4254, filed on Jan. 22, 2003, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a printing client management method and a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) printer in a wireless network, and more particularly, to a printing client management method and a wireless LAN printer using Media Access Control (MAC) addresses as an index based on the IEEE 802.11b standard.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Currently, printing operations are generally performed using a wired LAN. A client/server printer driver system that utilizes such a wired LAN is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,069.

[0006] However, alteration and extension of performance of the network and the system in the wired LAN is difficult due to the characteristics of a wired network. In addition, alternation and extension of the network and the system of the wired LAN require large investment, and wired LANs are not able to support a mobile communications system.

[0007] Thus, demand for wireless LANs to expand the performance of or replace wired LANs has increased. Here, a wireless LAN is characterized as having the ability to transfer and receive data through air, using radio frequency (RF), or infrared rays. Wireless LANs have the advantages of easy installation, and rapid network deployment. In addition, a wireless LAN does not require interconnecting wires, thus, allows flexible installation and movement of terminals, enabling simple maintenance and repair of the wireless LAN. These advantages have brought increasing attention towards the use of wireless LANs.

[0008] The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) established the IEEE 802.11 wireless standard to describe an over the air interface between a wireless client, a base station or access point, and other wireless clients. The IEEE 802.11b standard, established in September 1999, provides a maximum speed of 11 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band.

[0009] The IEEE 802.11b standard has been applied in the development of wireless LAN printers. When a computer is network enabled within the IEEE 802.11b standard to perform a printing operation using an IEEE 802.11b wireless LAN printer, the computer should associate with a Basic Service Set (BSS). While included as a BSS printing client, similar to other stations connected within the IEEE 802.11b such as a computer, an IEEE 802.11b wireless LAN printer performs various processes in order to exchange upper protocol packets including scanning, synchronization, association, disassociation, authentication, de-authentication, and transfer.

[0010] The wireless LAN printer functions as a network server. If the wireless LAN printer is included in the BSS, printing clients that wish to associate with the BSS perform synchronization, association, and authentication processes in relation to the wireless LAN printer. However, association with the wireless LAN printer is limited to approximately ten printing clients.

[0011] On the other hand, printing clients that have not been authenticated to receive services of the wireless LAN printer are able to associate with the wireless LAN printer. In such cases, because the number of printing clients allowed to associate with the wireless LAN printer is limited, the printing clients that have been authenticated to receive services of the wireless LAN printer are unable to associate with the wireless LAN printer. In other words, authenticated printing clients are unable to associate with the wireless LAN printer or perform the printing operation due to the presence of non-authenticated printing clients.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] An aspect of the present invention provides a printing client management method to associate authenticated printing clients with a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) printer by forming a list of printing clients using media access control (MAC) addresses as an index.

[0013] Another aspect of the present invention provides a wireless LAN printer to associate authenticated printing clients with a wireless LAN printer by forming a list of printing clients using MAC addresses as an index.

[0014] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

[0015] Accordingly, there is provided a printing client management method of a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) printer, which functions as a network server and manages at least one printing client in a LAN. The method comprises: extracting information from Media Access Control (MAC) frames of printing clients that associate with a Basic Service Set (BSS) that includes the wireless LAN printer; forming a list of the printing clients by using MAC addresses of the MAC frames as indexes; and managing printing operations of the printing clients according to the list.

[0016] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless LAN printer, which functions as a network server and manages printing client in a LAN. The wireless LAN printer comprises: an extraction unit, which extracts information from MAC frames of printing clients that associate with a BSS that includes the wireless LAN printer a list forming unit, which forms a list of the printing clients by using MAC addresses of the MAC frames as indexes; and a management unit, which manages printing operations of the printing clients according to the list.

[0017] According to one aspect, both the wireless LAN printer and the printing clients operate within the IEEE 802.11b standard.

[0018] According to another aspect, the list of printing clients formed using MAC addresses as an index is restructured in real time according to a beacon signal, and the list is updated when states of the printing clients change.

[0019] Further, according to another aspect, the list of printing clients denotes the states of the printing clients in relation to the wireless LAN printer including fields for at least one of synchronization, association, and authentication.

[0020] According to another aspect, the list of printing clients includes fields specifying whether each printing client is allowed to associate with the wireless LAN printer.

[0021] According to another aspect, the list of printing clients includes fields assigning a printing priority to the printing clients.

[0022] According to yet another aspect, the list of printing clients includes fields denoting whether specific functions of the wireless LAN printer can be used by a printing client.

[0023] Another aspect of the invention comprises a Personal Computer, a Personal Digital Assistant, or a cellular phone that includes a wireless LAN functionality as a printing client.

[0024] According to another aspect, the extraction unit, the list forming unit, and the management unit are implemented in network cards of the wireless LAN printer. While according to another aspect, the units are implemented as hardware or software.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent, and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings of which:

[0026]FIG. 1 is a view to illustrate a wireless local area network (LAN) group that includes a wireless LAN printer;

[0027]FIG. 2 is a block diagram to illustrate a wireless LAN group that includes a wireless LAN printer according to an aspect of the present invention; and

[0028]FIG. 3 is a flow chart to illustrate a printing client management method according to another aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout.

[0030] In describing different aspects of the present invention, the detailed descriptions of a conventional technique will be omitted when it is determined that the detailed descriptions deviate from the present invention. In addition, the terms used in the description are defined consistent with the functions of elements in the present invention. Thus, the terms may be different depending on the intentions and usages of users and operators. Thus, the terms will be defined based on the description of the present invention.

[0031] A wireless Local Area Network (LAN) group that includes a wireless LAN printer is shown in FIG. 1.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 1, a wireless LAN printer 10 and printing clients 20 communicate in a wireless LAN based on the IEEE 802.11b standard. Here, the wireless LAN printer 10 functions as a network server. The printing clients 20 include a Personal Computer (PC) 22, a laptop computer 24, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) 26, and a cellular phone 28. The printing clients depicted in FIG. 1 are only illustrative of the various printing clients that may be comprised in a wireless LAN, and a given wireless LAN may include more or less of the printing clients shown in FIG. 1. These and other similar printing clients 20 perform printing operations using the wireless LAN printer 10.

[0033] A block diagram to illustrate a wireless LAN group that includes a wireless LAN printer according to an aspect of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2.

[0034] The wireless LAN printer 10, according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a Media Access Control (MAC) software 12, an Application Programming Interface (API) 14, and an application software 16. Here, the MAC software 12 is used to extract information from the MAC frames of the printing clients 20. The API 14 forms a list of printing clients 20 using each of the MAC addresses associated with the MAC frames as an index. The list of printing clients is used to manage the printing operations of the printing clients 20. The application software 16 is used to perform the printing operations.

[0035] The wireless LAN printer 10 maintains a wired or wireless connection to a printer management server 30. The printer management server 30 includes a wireless LAN printer remote management program 32.

[0036] A flowchart to illustrate a printing client management method according to one aspect of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 3, information on the MAC frames of the printing clients 20 is extracted in operation S42 via the wireless LAN printer 10, which functions as a network server that manages multiple printing clients 20 in a wireless LAN. Thereafter, the list of the printing clients 20 are formed using each MAC address as an index, in operation S44. Next, in response to the list, the printing operations of the printing clients 20 are managed in operation S46.

[0038] In order to allow the printing clients 20 to use the wireless LAN printer 10 in a wireless LAN, the wireless LAN printer 10 and the printing clients 20 should be associated with one BSS 100. The BSS 100 is referred to as a wireless LAN group or a link level group and defines a limited space where wireless service can be provided. In other words, the BSS 100 is a basic network structure in the wireless LAN, or a cell, that is formed of one access point (AP) and at least one terminal.

[0039] While included in the BSS 100, the printing clients 20 perform various processes including scanning, synchronization, association, authentication, transfer, de-authentication, and disassociation in order to exchange upper protocol packets.

[0040] The wireless LAN printer 10, according to an aspect of the present invention, functions as a network server. In other words, the wireless LAN printer 10 becomes a BSS master or a link group server. The BSS master is a group owner that generates beacons. In a situation where the wireless LAN printer 10 is included in the BSS 100, the printing clients 20 that wish to associate with the BSS 100 perform processes such as, synchronization, association, and authentication with respect to the wireless LAN printer 10. However, association with the wireless LAN printer 10 is limited to approximately ten printing clients 20. Thus, it is preferable that only authenticated printing clients 20 be allowed to associate with the BSS 100.

[0041] To this end, information is extracted from the MAC frames of the printing clients 20. Thereafter, a list of the printing clients 20 is formed using each of the MAC addresses corresponding to the MAC frames as an index. Next, using the list, the printing operations of the printing clients 20 are managed. Since each of the LAN cards has a unique MAC address, each printing client 20 is distinguished by its respective MAC address.

[0042] The hierarchy of the MAC frames is present in the sublayer of the data link layer, which is the second layer of the seven layers of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) basic reference model. The MAC frames define the transmitting/receiving method of the frames, the format of the frames, and error detection of data. According to the IEEE 802.11b standard, the MAC frames are referred to as link level frames. The link level frames include three frames, management frames, control frames, and data frames.

[0043] The list is restructured in real time according to each of the beacon signals, and the list is updated when the states of the printing clients 20 change. In addition, the list reflects the states of the printing clients 20 in relation to the wireless LAN printer 10 and includes fields regarding synchronization, association, and authentication.

[0044] Furthermore, the list of printing clients includes fields specifying whether each printing client 20 is allowed to associate with the wireless LAN printer 10. The wireless LAN printer remote management program 32 in the printer management server 30 updates the fields specifying association permission. In other words, the wireless LAN printer remote management program 32 enables the fields denoting association permission in relation to authenticated printing clients, and disables the fields in relation to non-authenticated printing clients. Allowance of the association of the printing clients 20 with respect to the wireless LAN printer 10 is determined based on the fields denoting association permission. In the conventional system, when the non-authenticated printing clients associate with the wireless LAN printer 10, it is impossible for the authenticated printing clients to associate with the wireless LAN printer 10. However, since the fields denoting association permission are included in the system according to one aspect of the present invention and the system prevents non-authenticated printing clients form associating with the wireless LAN printer 10, the authenticated printing clients are able to receive services from the wireless LAN printer 10.

[0045] In addition, the list of printing clients includes fields denoting the printing priority of the printing clients 20. Thus, those printing clients higher in the printing priority are granted access to the printing service prior to those printing clients lower in the printing priority.

[0046] Furthermore, the list includes fields specifying whether various functions of the wireless LAN printer 10 are accessible to each of the printing clients 20. For example, when the wireless LAN printer 10 is a high-end printer that includes various functions, such as color printing, photo printing, and mono printing, the list of printing clients includes the fields that specify whether a particular function is accessible to each of the printing clients 20. Thus, each field is enabled or disabled according to the functions desired by a user, and the change can be requested based on the functions desired by the user.

[0047] The list of printing clients is managed in real time and reflects the state of the wireless LAN printer 10. In the case where a plurality of wireless LAN printers of the same kind are present, the wireless LAN printer remote management program 32 monitors the number of clients and the traffic of the clients in each group, in relation to each of the wireless LAN printers 10. The wireless LAN printer remote management program 32 can rearrange associations so that a wireless LAN printer 10 having less traffic is associated with additional clients.

[0048] It is possible to construct a business model for a printing service provider by using a printing client management method and a wireless LAN printer according to as aspect of the present invention. For example, a printer manager can form a BSS that includes LAN printers installed in airports, subway stations, Internet cafeterias, and department stores. Users who desire access to the printers are assigned an authentication key. During this process, the printer manager or a manager program extracts the MAC address of the printing client, and the MAC address is provided to the wireless LAN printer to initiate a connection timer that corresponds to the printing client. The MAC address is also used to manage the link level of the printer, to request charges to the client, to forcibly stop a printing operation, and to prevent appropriation of a wired equivalent privacy (WEP) key used in a security protocol.

[0049] In addition, a log record describing usage of the printer can be stored using the MAC hierarchy. Here, the record is stored in a storage device of the printer or a storage device of the printer management server. Since the MAC addresses are unique, the printer manager can also collect user information by recording a user's device information, and storing marketing information such as the frequency of use associated with a particular printer.

[0050] As described above, by preventing association of non-authenticated printing clients with the wireless LAN printer, additional authenticated printing clients are given the opportunity to associate with the wireless LAN printer.

[0051] Furthermore, the print manager can provide distinct services by assigning a printing priority to the printing clients and request charges according to the functions of the wireless LAN printer used by the printing clients.

[0052] Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A printing client management method of a wireless Local Area Network printer that functions as a network server and manages at least one printing client in a Local Area Network, comprising: extracting information from Media Access Control frame of the at least one printing client that is associated with a Basic Service Set, which includes the wireless LAN printer; forming a list of the at least one printing client by using Media Access Control address of the Media Access Control frame as an index; and managing printing operations of the at least one printing client according to the list.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless Local Area Network printer and the at least one printing client operate within the IEEE 802.11b standard.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the list of the at least one printing client is restructured in real time according to a beacon signal, and the list is updated when a state of the at least one printing client changes.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the list of the at least one printing client denotes state of the at least one printing client in relation to the wireless Local Area Network printer and includes fields for at least one of synchronization, association, and authentication.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the list of the at least one printing client includes fields specifying whether each printing client is allowed to associate with the wireless Local Area Network printer.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the list of the at least one printing client includes fields assigning a printing priority to the at least one printing client.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the list of the at least one printing client includes fields denoting whether specific functions of the wireless Local Area Network printer are usable by the at least one printing client.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one printing client is a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, or a cellular phone, that includes a wireless Local Area Network functionality.
 9. A wireless Local Area Network printer that functions as a network server and manages at least one printing client in a Local Area Network, comprising: an extraction unit to extract information from Media Access Control frame of the at least one printing client that is associated with a Basic Service Set, which includes the wireless LAN printer; a list forming unit to form a list of the at least one printing client using Media Access Control address of the Media Access Control frame as an index; and a management unit to manage printing operations of the at least one printing client according to the list.
 10. The wireless Local Area Network printer according to claim 9, wherein the wireless Local Area Network printer and the at least one printing client operate within the IEEE 802.11b standard.
 11. The wireless Local Area Network printer according to claim 9, wherein the list of the at least one printing client is restructured in real time according to a beacon signal, and the list is updated when a state of the at least one printing client changes.
 12. The wireless Local Area Network printer according to claim 9, wherein the list denotes a state of the at least one printing client in relation to the wireless Local Area Network printer and includes fields for at least one of synchronization, association, and authentication.
 13. The wireless Local Area Network printer according to claim 9, wherein the list of the at least one printing client includes fields specifying whether each printing client is allowed to associate with the wireless Local Area Network printer.
 14. The wireless Local Area Network printer according to claim 9, wherein the list of the at least one printing client includes fields assigning a printing priority to the at least one printing client.
 15. The wireless Local Area Network printer according to claim 9, wherein the list of the at least one printing client includes fields denoting whether specific functions of the wireless Local Area Network printer are usable by the at least one printing client.
 16. The wireless Local Area Network printer according to claim 9, wherein the at least one printing client is a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, or a cellular phone, that includes a wireless Local Area Network functionality.
 17. The wireless Local Area Network printer according to claim 9, wherein the extraction unit, the list forming unit, and the management unit are implemented in network cards of the wireless Local Area Network printer.
 18. The wireless Local Area Network printer according to claim 9, wherein the extraction unit, the list forming unit, and the management unit are implemented as hardware or software.
 19. The method of according to claim 2, wherein the list of the at least one printing client is restructured in real time according to a beacon signal, and the list is updated when a state of the at least one printing client changes.
 20. The method of according to claim 2, wherein the list of the at least one printing client denotes a state of the at least one printing client in relation to the wireless Local Area Network printer and includes fields for at least one of synchronization, association, and authentication.
 21. The method of according to claim 2, wherein the list of the at least one printing client includes fields specifying whether the at least one printing client is allowed to associate with the wireless LAN Local Area Network printer.
 22. The method of according to claim 2, wherein the list of the at least one printing client includes fields assigning a printing priority to the at least one printing client.
 23. The method of according to claim 2, wherein the list of the at least one printing client includes fields denoting whether specific functions of the wireless Local Area Network printer are usable by the at least one printing client.
 24. The method of according to claim 2, wherein the at least one printing client is a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, or a cellular phone, that includes a wireless Local Area Network functionality.
 25. The wireless LAN Local Area Network printer of according to claim 10, wherein the list of the at least one printing client is restructured in real time according to a beacon signal, and the list is updated when a state of the at least one printing client changes.
 26. The wireless LAN Local Area Network printer of according to claim 10, wherein the list denotes a state of the at least one printing client with respect to the wireless LAN Local Area Network printer and includes fields for at least one of synchronization, association, and authentication.
 27. The wireless LAN Local Area Network printer of according to claim 10, wherein the list of the at least one printing client includes fields specifying whether the at least one printing client is allowed to associate with the wireless Local Area Network printer.
 28. The wireless LAN Local Area Network printer of according to claim 10, wherein the list of the at least one printing client includes fields assigning a printing priority to the at least one printing client.
 29. The wireless LAN Local Area Network printer of according to claim 10, wherein the list of the at least one printing client includes fields denoting whether specific functions of the wireless Local Area Network printer are usable by the at least one printing client.
 30. The wireless LAN Local Area Network printer of according to claim 10, wherein the at least one printing client is a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, or a cellular phone, that includes a wireless Local Area Network functionality.
 31. The wireless Local Area Network printer according to claim 10, wherein the extraction unit, the list forming unit, and the management unit are implemented in network cards of the wireless Local Area Network printer.
 32. The wireless Local Area Network printer according to claim 10, wherein the extraction unit, the list forming unit, and the management unit are implemented as hardware or software.
 33. A printing client management method of a wireless Local Area Network printer, comprising: forming a list that includes at least one printing client using Media Access Control address of the Media Access Control frame related to the at least one printing client as an index; and associating the at least one printing client authenticated to receive services of the wireless Local Area Network printer to the wireless Local Area Network printer using the list of the at least one printing client.
 34. The method according to claim 33, wherein allowance of association of the at least one printing client in relation to the wireless Local Area Network printer is determined based on fields denoting association permission.
 35. The wireless Local Area Network printer according to claim 9, further comprising: an association forming unit to associate each authenticated printing client with the wireless Local Area Network printer using the list of the at least one printing client.
 36. The wireless Local Area Network printer according to claim 9, further comprising: a media access control software is used to extract information from the Media Access Control frame of the at least one printing client; and an application programming interface is used to form a list of the at least one printing client using Media Access Control address associated with the Media Access Control frame as an index.
 37. The wireless Local Area Network printer according to claim 9, wherein the printer maintains a wired or wireless connection to a printer management server.
 38. The wireless Local Area Network printer according to claim 36, wherein the printer management server includes a wireless Local Area Network printer remote management program.
 39. A printing client management method of a wireless Local Area Network printer that functions as a network server and manages at least one printing client in a Local Area Network, comprising: extracting information from Media Access Control frame of the at least one printing client; forming a list of the at least printing client using Media Access Control address of the Media Access Control frame as an index; and managing printing operation of the at least one printing client according to the list.
 40. The method according to claim 38, wherein the wireless Local Area Network printer becomes a Basic Service Set master or a link group server.
 41. The method according to claim 15, wherein each field denoting whether specific functions of the wireless Local Area Network printer is enabled or disabled according to functions desired by a user.
 42. A computer readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program to perform a method, comprising: extracting information from Media Access Control frame of at least one printing client that is associated with a Basic Service Set, which includes a wireless Local Area Network printer; providing the Media Access Control information of the at least one printing client to the wireless Local Area Network printer to initiate a connection timer; and managing the link level of the printer using the Media Access Control information of the at least one printing client.
 43. The computer program according to claim 42, wherein the Media Access Control information of the at least one printing client is used to request changes to the at least one printing client.
 44. The computer program according to claim 42, wherein the Media Access Control information of the at least one printing client is used to forcibly stop a printing operation.
 45. The computer program according to claim 42, wherein the Media Access Control information of the at least one printing client is used to prevent appropriation of a Wired Equivalent Privacy key used in a security protocol.
 46. The computer program according to claim 42, wherein a log record describing usage of the printer is stored using a Media Access Control hierarchy.
 47. The computer program according to claim 42, wherein the Media Access Control information is used to collect user information by recording a user's device information. 